UK citizens leave to flourish

New research has revealed that three out of four expat global workers decided to move abroad as this is seen to be the best way to make serious career advancement.

Results from the fourth annual NatWest International Personal Banking (IPB) Quality of Life Index has revealed that 84 percent of expats moved overseas to improve their career, however 83 percent also cited the desire for a change in scenery, and 79 percent say they want to experience different cultures.

A trend that has emerged is that a lot of people are choosing to take on temporary expatriate assignments.

Currently, about three quarters of a million British citizens travel overseas to work every year. The rise in temporary workers shows that the canvas of expatriation is blurring as Britain joins the ever growing international brain exchange.

While fears of ‘brain drains’ are often raised, s more positive way of looking at the situation is that countries are now progressively sharing their skilled workers rather than hoarding them, as people want to move ahead in their careers while experiencing new cultures.

Dave Isley, head of NatWest International Personal Banking, said: “The growth of the global worker has brought with it an opportunity to share knowledge and experience around the world. The great brain exchange is a fantastic concept of other economies temporarily sharing the strengths of British workers. Due to advances in travel and telecommunications, it is now much easier for international operations to run via daily phone calls, e-mail, and video conferencing. It has opened the door to sending young, talented, professionals abroad, while being supervised and coached by their managers in the UK.”